Fence



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 F. P. R'OSBAOK & H. P. BAND. FENCE.

No. 492,876. Patented Mar. 7, 1893.

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(No Model.) 2 sheets-sheet 2. F. P. ROSBACK 8:; H. F. BAND.

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No. 492,876. Patented Mar. 7,- 1893.

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UNrrED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK P. ROSBAOK AND HENRY F. BAND, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

FENCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 492,876, dated March '7, 1893.

Application filedMay 24, 1892- Serial No. 434,200- (No model.)

Be it known that we, FREDERICK P. ROS- BACK and HENRY F. BAND, both citizens of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Fences, of which the following is a specification.

The object of our invention is to provide an extremely cheap and simple construction of sheet-metal fence post involving all necessary strength and adapted for the ready and secure attachment of rails.

In carrying out our invention we form a sheet metal fence post by providing a long and narrow sheet-metal plate and bending the same along a line between its longitudinal edge portions so as to form a rib or corrugation arranged between two fiat flange portions, and thus provide the post with one flat side peculiarly adapted for board rails. We also provide the sheet metal post with devices for holding board or wire rails or both as may be desired, and as a matter of further improvement provide a sheet metal post of any desired form with clips formed by punching or striking out tangs or clips from the sheet metal in a way to permit the clips to be bent over upon and clasp the rails. The corrugated portion of the post not only serves to stiffen the same, but also renders the portion of the post which is driven in the ground of such shape that the post will be held firmly in position.

In the accompanying drawings,Figure 1 represents in side elevation a portion of a fence embodying our invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged section taken through one of the posts on line :r-w in Fig. 1, so as to illustrate the mode of securing the meeting end portions of the sections of a board rail to the post, Fig. 3 is a like view taken on line yy in Fig. 1, so as to illustrate the mode of attaching of a wire rail to the post. Fig. 4 represents in perspective a metal fence post involving our invention, and Fig. 5 is alike view showing a somewhat modified form. Fig. 6 is a section through Fig. at on line z-z on a larger scale, and Fig. 7 is a like section through Fig. 5 on line zz. Fig. Sis asection taken through a portion of the post of Fig. 4 on a vertical central line, and on a larger scale. Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8, with the board-holding devices omitted, and with one of its wire holding clips or tangs bent about a Wire. Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 8, with the wireholding clip or tang omitted, and with a couple of the board holding devices, consisting of clips or tangs, bent about a board-rail which latter is shown in cross-section.

The metal fence post A consists of a long and narrow metal plate which is made of suitably stout sheet metal and formed with a longitudinally arranged corrugation which serves to stiffen and strengthen the post to such an extent that it can be driven into the ground toa suitable depth. The form of this longitudinal bend or corrugation can be varied, as for example, it can be made angular in cross-section as at a Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 6, or it can be rounded or made part cylindric in cross -.section as at a Figs. 5 and 6. The longitudinally arranged bend, rib or corrugation a or a, is desirably formed along the longitudinal middle line of an otherwise flat metal plate so as to provide along each side edge of the corrugation a wing or flange a These flange portions a. of the post are provided with tangs or clips B adapted for holding board rails, and the middle corrugated or bent portion of the post is provided with tangs or clips 0 for holding wire rails. The tangs or clips for both the boards and wires are formed by punching the metal sheet so as to provide it with projecting ears, clips or tangs which can be bent about the rails or boards when the same are to be applied in constructing a fence. While the clips 0 for the wires can be bent about the latter in various ways, we prefer to bend the wire atapoint opposite the clip which is to hold it, and to then bend the clip over and back upon the wire as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 9.

The clips for the wires are punched or struck up from the post so as to project from the outer or convex side of its corrugation as in Figs. 6, 7 and 8, while the clips for the,

boards are punched or struck up so as to project from the opposite side of the post as also illustrated in said figures. With such arrangement therefore the board rails and wire rails can be attached to a post, respectively at opposite sides of the same, it being seen that the corrugation presents no obstruction to the application of a board rail to what may be considered as the flat side of the post, as best shown in Fig. 2, and that a wire rail can be readily applied to the opposite side of the post as best shown in Figs. 1 and 3. As a matter of course, the wire rail could be attached to the flat side of the post by providing the same with clips for such purpose, and where only wire rails are to be employed, such arrangement will be entirely practicable. But as a rule we prefer constructing the fence with both board and wire rails, and in such case we prefer allotting the board-holding clips to the flange portions, and the wire holding clips to the corrugated portions of the posts, so as to avoid weakening the same by punching them at points too close together.

The ends of the sections of a board rail may abut against one another asin Fig. 2, or they may be separated if desired, and as a means for further securing the board rails in place after their allotted clips have been bent about them as in Fig. 10, we drive screws or nails 1) through holes E previously formed in the board holding clips, so as to force such bolts, screws or nails into the board rails. Each flange portion of the post can also be provided with holes F for additional bolts, screws or rangeinent and further improvement, they are punched or struck out from the sheet-metal post so as to permit the rail to be placed directly against and across the post, and that such clips can then be bent over the rail and inwardly toward the post so as to embrace and clasp, the rail and hold the same in position against the post. Also, that these clips can obviously be economically punched by suitable machinery at small cost.

What we claim as our invention is A sheet-metal post formed with a corrugation along its longitudinal middle line, flange edge portions, clips along its corrugation, and clips along its flange edge portions, substantially as set forth.

FREDERICK P. ROSBACK. HENRY F. BAND.

Witnesses:

W. D; MIDDLETON, UHAs. G. PAGE. 

